Thermal inversions over Denver? (Fort Collins, Thornton: price, air quality, castle)

[grew-up-3rd-culture]

I've read pieces of scattered information about dense thermal inversions over Denver during some seasons b/c the city is built in a basin (lower elevation) than surrounding cities (Castle Rock and Fort Collins). I understand the air gets so bad that restrictions are put in place keeping residents from using wood-burning fireplaces. Does anyone have pictures they can post, or have experiences they can share about Denver's thermal inversions?

[tfox]

No pics, but yes, they can be periodically occur and worsen air quality significantly. Inversions usually last for a period of a couple days, and the smog will simply build and build until a front finally pushes it out. Luckily, this will only occur usually about 2-3 times per winter, though sometimes more.

That being said, every western city (pretty much) suffers from inversions, some worse than Denver. It's the price you pay to be close to mountains.

[wxjay]

Fort Collins is lower in elevation than Denver, so I'm not sure what basin effect you mean...

[tfox]

Originally Posted by wxjay

Fort Collins is lower in elevation than Denver, so I'm not sure what basin effect you mean...

That is true, but there are areas in-between FC and Denver area are higher elevation. The South Platte River (northeast) is the only direction you can go from downtown Denver without gaining in elevation, hence the basin effect.

[grew-up-3rd-culture]

The reason I ask is although I love Colorado, I hear alot that people relocate to Colorado for the "clean air". I don't know how familiar many posters are with Denver's thermal inversions, but has anyone heard that Los Angeles, Mexico City and Denver are listed as places having notable thermal inversions? When I heard that I thought, "Wow!, L.A. and Mexico City are as bad as Denver?!" What are you thoughts?

[Katiana]

The suburbs to the immediate north of Denver along i-25 (Federal Hts, Northglenn, Thornton, Broomfield) all have higher elevations than Denver. By the time you get to Erie, it begins to drop. Longmont, Loveland and Ft. Collins are all at lower altitude than Denver.

[grew-up-3rd-culture]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

The suburbs to the immediate north of Denver along i-25 (Federal Hts, Northglenn, Thornton, Broomfield) all have higher elevations than Denver. By the time you get to Erie, it begins to drop. Longmont, Loveland and Ft. Collins are all at lower altitude than Denver.

What do you know about thermal inversion over denver?

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by grew-up-3rd-culture

What do you know about thermal inversion over denver?

Same as tfox said on August 2. The air gets trapped. The infamous "brown cloud" ensues.